The sharp tone of his alarm cut through the darkness of his room, pulling Lin Feng out of an uneasy sleep. For a moment, he lay still, his eyes half-open, staring at the pale morning light creeping through the thin curtains. The images of the previous day flashed in his mind like broken pieces of a dream. The Tower. The Tree. The voice that had whispered, You are in the Estra Roots.
His hand instinctively reached for his phone, which lay on the nightstand beside his bed. He unlocked it immediately. The brightness of the screen stung his eyes, but he blinked through the discomfort. Without hesitation, he went directly to the forum. That forum, his usual escape with his fellow gamers, had transformed overnight into a storm of chaos, speculation, and fear.
New posts flooded the page faster than he could scroll:
"Oh my God! Oh my God! They sent special units into the dungeon and they haven't come back!"
"It seems that the government is thinking of sending a second team!"
"What will happen to us? What if no one ever comes back?!"
"Are they aliens? Is this the start of an invasion?!"
The messages scrolled endlessly as the world collectively attempted to process the incomprehensible. Each person offered their own theory. Some panicked. Some joked. Others clung to the hope that this was still some elaborate simulation or prank.
"Seriously, what I believe," one user posted, "it's like the video games we play. Maybe there are aliens inside, or maybe it's something else. But it feels like a game. Like we're supposed to conquer the Tower. That's what it seems like to me, but who knows anymore."
Lin Feng read the words carefully, his heart tightening as his thoughts mirrored their confusion. He understood their fears. After what he had seen, after speaking with the Tree inside the Estra Roots, he knew that this was far beyond anything humanity had ever faced before. And yet, even with his limited experience, he felt an eerie sense of detachment from the conversations online.
"They don't know," he whispered to himself.
He had seen something no one else had talked about. The Tree. The silent, towering being that had spoken to him directly. Its voice was calm, ancient, beyond comprehension. Even though he had not ventured further inside, even though he had only seen the very first part of the Tower, Lin Feng felt the heavy weight of what lay ahead. The fact that the first team hadn't returned didn't surprise him. If anything, it confirmed what he suspected: whatever existed beyond that initial space was likely far worse than anyone could imagine.
He sighed and looked at the clock on his phone: 8:00 AM.
His stomach rumbled slightly, reminding him that despite the looming uncertainty, life still followed its usual rhythms. Pulling himself out of bed, he walked quietly across his room, opened the door, and descended the wooden staircase to the first floor of the house.
The familiar sounds of morning greeted him: the soft clatter of dishes, the faint murmur of the news playing in the living room, the low voices of his family trying to carry on a normal conversation despite the heaviness in the air.
At the kitchen table, his mother, Mei Lin, and his sister, Lin Xiu, were quietly eating breakfast. His mother, always composed, was calmly reading something on her tablet while occasionally taking small bites of her toast. Lin Xiu, still in her pajamas, was playing absentmindedly with her cereal, her wide eyes betraying the nervous energy bubbling inside her.
In the living room, his father sat stiffly on the couch, eyes fixed on the television. The news anchors spoke rapidly, shifting between languages, struggling to keep up with the overwhelming stream of global reports.
"...Governments around the world have confirmed multiple task forces have entered various Towers across different countries..."
"...Reports indicate that no communication has been established with any of the teams that entered..."
"...A second international press conference is scheduled at noon to address the situation and announce the next steps..."
"...Military blockades remain active. The public is urged to remain calm and avoid Tower locations..."
The images flashing across the screen were surreal. Drone footage of Towers standing like dark sentinels in the middle of cities, mountains, forests, deserts — they were everywhere. Every country on the planet had its own Tower, identical in structure and equally mysterious in origin.
Lin Feng walked into the living room, pausing for a moment behind his father. His father didn't acknowledge him immediately. He was too absorbed by the endless stream of breaking news.
Without speaking, Lin Feng sat down on the couch beside him. The room was tense but oddly calm. Everyone was waiting. Everyone was holding their breath.
Finally, breaking the silence, Lin Feng asked softly, "What do you think will happen?"
His father slowly turned his head toward him, his face thoughtful and serious. For a moment, he simply stared at Lin Feng as if weighing his words carefully. Then, with a steady voice, he answered, "Don't worry. The government will probably find a solution."
Lin Feng nodded but didn't respond. The words were meant to comfort, but they rang hollow. Even his father, always composed and pragmatic, didn't fully believe what he was saying.
The rest of the morning passed in a strange, suspended reality. They tried to carry on as normally as possible. Mei Lin made sure Lin Xiu finished her breakfast and prepared for her online classes, though neither of them could truly focus. Zhao Wen checked work emails that had become meaningless overnight as his company, like many others, had temporarily shut down operations while the world waited.
Lin Feng spent most of his time refreshing the forums, reading every new theory and rumor. The online community had become a mirror of humanity's collective psyche: fear, speculation, jokes, conspiracies, and desperation swirling together into a chaotic storm.
Some argued that the Towers were a punishment from some higher power. Others believed they were gateways to another world. A few insisted it was an elaborate government experiment gone wrong. But no one had real answers.
One user wrote:
"What if the Towers are testing us? Like some kind of trial for humanity. If we fail, maybe we get wiped out. If we succeed... who knows?"
Another posted:
"My cousin says some people saw strange creatures near the Towers at night. Like shadows that move but don't make any noise."
And another:
"I don't care what anyone says. This is just like those games we play. The Towers are dungeons. There are levels, monsters, and maybe even bosses. We have to climb them. It's the only way."
Lin Feng couldn't deny that last comment hit uncomfortably close to his own thoughts. The Tower did feel like something pulled out of a game. But unlike any game he had ever played, there were no respawns, no save points, no tutorials. This was real. And deadly.
He found himself wondering if anyone else had seen the Tree. If other people around the world had been pulled inside like him before the Towers fully appeared. But nowhere in the forums did anyone mention anything remotely similar to his experience. As far as he could tell, he was completely alone in that regard.
The clock ticked steadily toward noon. The anticipation grew heavier with each passing minute. Around 11:45, the entire family gathered in the living room. They knew the world press conference would begin soon.
The television screen displayed a countdown: "International Emergency Broadcast: Live in 10 minutes."
Lin Xiu sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes wide, hugging her pillow tightly. Mei Lin sat beside Zhao Wen, holding his hand gently, both of them staring at the screen.
Lin Feng sat at the edge of the couch, leaning forward, his hands clasped tightly. His mind raced with questions.
Would they tell the truth? Would they reveal what was really inside? Or would they simply feed the public carefully chosen information to avoid mass panic?
Finally, the countdown hit zero.
The screen flickered, and the broadcast began. A row of somber-looking world leaders appeared behind a large podium, flags of multiple nations lining the backdrop. The lead spokesperson, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a hardened expression, stepped forward.
He adjusted the microphone, took a breath, and began to speak.
"Citizens of the world. As you are all aware, we are facing an unprecedented situation. Yesterday, Towers appeared simultaneously across every nation, structures of unknown origin and purpose. As of this morning, our joint task forces have conducted multiple entry operations into these Towers."
He paused for a moment, his jaw tightening before continuing.
"Regrettably, we must report that none of the teams who entered have returned, and all communication with these teams has been lost."
The room fell even more silent. Even though they had suspected as much, hearing it confirmed by the government sent a fresh wave of anxiety through Lin Feng's chest.
The spokesperson continued.
"We are coordinating with international experts, scientists, and military leaders to evaluate all available data. Based on our current analysis, we have reached a preliminary decision on how to proceed."
Lin Feng's heart pounded louder with each word.
"At this time, we are preparing a second phase of exploration. Starting within the next 24 hours, new teams composed of specially selected individuals will be deployed into the Towers. These teams will consist of soldiers, scientists, and individuals with diverse skills who may offer unique insights into the challenges within."
He looked directly into the camera, his voice firm.
"We recognize the risks involved, but we cannot stand idle while these structures remain unexplored. We owe it to humanity to understand their purpose — and to confront whatever lies within."
Lin Feng's pulse quickened. The words echoed in his mind like a distant drumbeat.
"Whatever lies within."
The spokesman finished, his tone heavy but resolute.
"We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. Until then, we urge all citizens to remain calm, stay informed through official channels, and continue to trust that together, we will face this challenge head-on."
The broadcast faded as reporters began shouting questions, the screen cutting back to the studio.
The room remained silent.
Lin Feng exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the moment settle deep into his chest.
The world had officially begun its march into the unknown.